Eco-friendly dishwasher detergents are depressing. Woe to unwary consumers who choose environmentally friendly dishwasher detergents as one of their first steps toward a greener lifestyle. They're likely to slam into high prices, gritty dishes, scum, and entire loads that need to be rewashed. We wouldn't blame them a bit for throwing up their hands in disgust and giving up on "hippie-dippie green nonsense."

We've found two affordable alternatives that really work.The favorite at my house (and top dog in EarthFirst's recent dishwasher detergent review) is Method Smarty Dish Detergent in Go Naked, available at Target stores nationwide.  You get 20 phosphate-free, bleach-free tablets in a recyclable plastic tub. One tablet actually gets a whole load clean, with no grit or sludge left over.

Another effective choice that I never would have discovered on my own (it took sending my husband out for a few necessities on the weekend—and he hit a store I wouldn't normally have chosen): Simplicity dishwasher tablets from Wal-Mart. Yes, I was skeptical, but these tablets did a great job. They've joined a small but growing list of products I'll make the occasional stock-up trip to Wal-Mart to purchase.

(Photo credit:Method)